Just when I thought I'd covered everything...

I remember about the very important tooth cake that Ms. Becca Gardner earned for her bravery in the Great Extraction! (Tooth pulling) Such a brave little soldier, like her brother Josh! I believe dads exact words were, "Now that's a cake!" and how! Two tiers of sprinkle studded Funfetti fluff bread (it was so light), frosted with rich chocolate heav-en, and by request studded with BRIGHT RED polka dots and rainbow Jelly Beans! Mmmm, Jeally Beans which I repeatedly plucked off the top in secret ::smile::

Taaa daa! What do you think? It's a beauty! I know I know! We each saw something different in the cake: To Rebecca it was a brightly colored clown head, Ryan thought it looked like a house to some tiny gnome, and I thought it was an elaborately decorated teapot...it was supposed to be a giant cupcake! lol But it's better this way as a mighty morphin power cake, with the super power to be anything in the eyes of it's beholder! Becca already has another loose tooth, that she is holding for ransom in exchange for rice krispie treats! What have we created?!

The twins had a visit from the tooth fairy this week also; Supernatural style! It was pretty grim, They went to the dentist: James had 4 teeth pulled, and Justin had two. I know because, they SHOWED them to me. Can you believe that?! BIG honkin rooted goobers with blood stains and everything! Who keeps a goodybag of teeth?! I almost ralphed!... Mom wanted me to take a picture for you Josh...thank God they threw them out already, phew! 

In other news Joshua has met some peretty big milestones in the last week alone! Would you like to see?!? Of course you would! BUT i'm unable to upload 1 minute long videos, sorry! lol NO really, it's frusterating, and i'm looking into finding another blog, but in the mean time videos will be postponed...don't cry, i'll just e-mail you Josh! Mmmwa! Joshua has begun to talk! He started with mama, (yaay!), and then dada, and now the two words have mingled into a happy singsong of his, which I am happy to listen to as he plays throughout the day. Along with talking Joshua has mastered the sit-up, and he has begun to....STAND! That's right stand! An early accomplishment at not even nine months, one that brought a joyful tear to this mom's eye, and a break out ballad of "Oh beautiful for spacious skies!" He stood up under the American Flag, so it just seemed appropriate...Myyy little patriot, that was for you daddy, obviously. ::smirk:: He is progressively becoming more aware of his strength and body, and I am hopeful he will be FULL ON walking by Easter! Let the chase begin!

Easter is quickly coming upon us, and the weather is so perfectly springtime, that it seems the holiday is really ushering in the season! Much like the distinguished Mr. E.B. my Joshua has been extremely busy making preparations for Sunday! His to do list:

Try on a suitable pair of "Ear-moofs"

Find an Easter Basket

Run several practice Easter egg hunts side note (Excel in this!) hehe

Have some good ol' fashioned fun with Aunts and Uncles :)

Try first Easter Candy

Obtain first Easter basket!

Let's see how he has faired so far...

Are these REALLY necessary ladies? 

Well if you insist...let me turn it on! ::SMILE::

Ear-moofs ~ CHECK! Cuteness double check! I mean could he be any darn cuter, I know i'm his mom, but I don't think so! We found this amazing headgear on a late night shopping spree at Kroger! I love Kroger, and I love late night shopping, especially when it is for SUPER important Easter provisions like Becca's Easter Basket! Really I could live at the grocery store hehehe, so any excuse! Becca scored a pretty window pained basket colored with bright hues of pink and purple, and decorated with elaborate easter eggs! It was the biggest one because we mean business round these parts when it comes to egg huntin'! Joshua didn't need a basket from the store; he was sent a beautiful basket from GiGi over the weekend- hand sown brown and blue with bunny ears and a sweet puff for a cotton tail, perfect :)...My boy did have his eye on a few choice items for his Easter basket though! We will just have to wait and see if E.B. brings him anything special!! 

Becca with Joshua's Easter Basket and his bunny blanket!

Joshua and Becca put their baskets to good use in the Annual Church egg hunt! What an event! Here is the low down/breakdown: Mc-e-dee's, Captain D's, Famous Daves, and the best one GiGi's cupcakes were all big contributors, over fourteen thousand Easter eggs were hidden, and eggs were filled to the brim with goodies from soup to nuts! Candy, chocolate, free kids meals, ice cream coupons, cute little temp tattoos you name it they had it! When the music started and the announcer said "GO" the kids went wild! It was SO  fun! The land was picked over in abouut a minute...just enough time for Joshua and I to get a basket full :) It's times like these that our baby carrier comes in handy! The small things seem to make a parent truely happy; crawling through the grass scooping up eggs, Joshua reaching for them and putting them in his own "basket" his mouth, wide eyed the whole time being in the middle of the action, children and colored eggs everywhere! I'll never forget it...There may have been as many egg thirsty kids as there were eggs themselves; I couldn't be more excited that this year Joshua was one of them. We are truely blessed! 

Just then, as we emerged from the grass celebratory of the eggs we'd just scavenged, the sky turned dark, dark as rough waters in a sea faring storm; she opened up and rained down her fury upon the children! yes it  WAS this dramatic, just take my word, I was there! As I was narrating... RAINED down her furry upon them! Mom, the kids, and I all banded together looking for an escape route, and safe cover! Now we both drive SUV'S, and it was hailing at this point; think about how much fun it was to get our cars out of a packed park field, and drive over to the coveted Sonic save haven! I guess we are gluttons for punishment, because we waited it out looking over our winnings, and the various free coupons collected, none of them sonic coupons of course ::chuckle::...then...we went back for more! Let me tell you something about small children: they are dedicated Easter egg hunters! Kids endure anything for candy. PERIOD. Basically the only big kids that stayed for the second hunt were Justin and James, and that wasn't by choice...in the beginning...ahhh you know you guys loved it! I saw you edged up over that flag line, their was hunger in your eyes! Allow me to show you what came of the second race! 

Oh yeaaaaah! Joshua discovered an elusive prize egg, and right outta the gate! "My little mannis!" Proud Mama, comin' through! The Gardner's have attended this event five years running and never found one! As far as we knew they were folklore, mere stories used to lure kids back time and time again....WELP, Joshua you made our dreams come true! Our egg directed us over a narrow bridge and treacherous ravine, a path so obviously meant for a worthy victor! ::wink: No matter Joshua courageously led us over to collect our bounty! 

Our bounty included: Yahtzee, a free Dominos pizza made ANY way you liked, a liter of Sprite, and this cute kid, oh wait...Joshua! Get outta the basket before someone else tries to win you! Silly! I'm gonna skip ahead a beat, and tell you that the kids and I spent the day together while mom and dad went out on a well deserved outing just the two of them! We went ahead and spent our domino's certificate and had a pizza party! Of course I dialed Domino's up first to inquire about this "ANY" pizzas perimeters...guess what?! There were none! A meeting was called at once to discuss this important matter; after putting our heads together we decided on an X-TRA large with pepperoni and just to test domino's word added hamburger on two slices for Justin, THEY DID IT....we were having a hard time grasping the concept of anything, ANYTHING on your pizza! After we ordered our wonder pizza Ryann and I shared a laugh over the endless possibilities; pepperoni heart, Pepperoni American Flag, A completely customized pie with something different on each slice! Next year ::head nod:: We enjoyed every last bite, then took Joshua outside in the warm sunshine, and played some hoop! It was a great afternoon, and I can't wait for Summer to begin so we can spend afternoons at the pool!

Back to our Sunday in the park I'd like to share some pictures really, just because i'm writting a blog, not a book :)....

Mr. E.B.!!!

Maybe he was lucky?!

This was my FIRE ROCK filled with food!

All of those people, and that was only in Joshua's age group! Gah-lee it was SUCH a blast! Thank you Jackie for being such a wonderful mother to me, and including me fully in your life, I really feel like part of the family; something that helps me get by every day that Josh is on his "business trip" ::wink:: Our day concluded at Amigos, a restaurant trip that is becoming a weekend tradition :) I braved something new on the menu... FYI it's ok to play it safe with Mexican food! YIKES...And that is Grams loving on Joshua, gotta love the moments when you think noone is looking aaand snap! A grandmothers pure affection for her grandbaby <3